Rubber band dispenser



1,1943. P. A. YOCUM 2,328,522

RUBBER BAND DI SPENS ER Filed Nov. 18, 1941 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lh I 10 INVENTOR. Paul A. Yocum HTTX Aug. 31,1943. p YOCUM 2,328,522

RUBBER BAND DISPENSER Filed Nov. 18, 1941' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lii INVENTOR. aul A. Yooum HTTX Patented Aug. 31, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUBBER BAND DISPENSER Paul A. Yocum, Barberton, Ohio Application November 18, 1941, Serial No. 419,555

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a rubber band or like dispenser.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved rubber band dispenser in which rubber bands are disposed to be removed one at a time, there being a singleband extended freely for ready removal and such removal thereof placing another band in position for similar removal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rubber band dispenser of the character described having a peripheral series of bands thereon, the dispenser being mounted to rotate about a relatively fixed axis, whereby removal of one band from the series will automatically set the dispenser in position for convenient reach of another band for removal therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rubber band dispenser of the character described which is compact and convenient to use and yet which is simple and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a rubber band dispenser embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an edge view thereof.

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 1, illustrating the method of arranging the rubber bands on the dispenser.

Figure 4 is a front view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is an edge View of Figure 4 as viewed from the right thereof.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral Ill designates a body of relatively stiff sheet material, such as cardboard, this body being in the form of a square, although it may be triangular or in the shape of any other polygonal figure, as will be understood later. The corner portions of the body or card l0 may be notched at Ill Hi to define outwardly tapered and rounded protuberances II, II.

Stretched between pairs of adjacent protuberances II, in progressive series around the periphery of the body, may be elastic bands I2 of known type and indicated generally at 12, these bands engaging in oppositely disposed notches l0. Each rubber band of the series between the first and last ones in the order of mounting the same on the body have one end thereof engaging through the next preceding band of the series to engage over its respective protuberance I l. The last band in the serie also has one end engaging through the next preceding band of the series and over a protuberance, but the other end thereof is left loose to be readily grasped between the fingers to remove it from the body l9. Thus by disengaging the loose band l2, shown in full lines in Figure 1, from the protuberance I I on which it is retained only by the next preceding band of the series said next preceding band will be automatically loosened, as indicated in chain-dotted lines in Figure 1, for subsequent removal in a similar manner to that described. In the same way all of the bands on body I!) may be removed in succession. The tapered and rounded shape of the protuberances I I greatly facilitates slipping a band over the end of a protuberance upon pulling a previously loosened band outwardly of the body.

The procedure for arranging the elastic bands l2 on the body H! for use as described above is best shown in Figure 3. First, an elastic band I2 is looped at one end over the protuberance H and then an elastic band l2 is stretched between said protuberance l l and the protuberance ll over the end of band l2 as shown in full lines in Figure 3. Next, an elastic band [2 is engaged over the protuberance H at the side thereof adjacent protuberance li and the free end of the band i2 is engaged over the other side of protuberance H and over the end of band |2, as indicated in chain-dotted lines. Similarly elastic bands may be progressively arranged in series between adjacent protuberances in succession around the periphery of the body H), the last band mounted on a body, of course, having one end left loose, as shown in full lines in Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate another form of the invention which may comprise a body l5 of relatively stiff material, such as cardboard, this body being suitably removably mounted on a shaft 15 for rotation about a horizontal axis. The body 15 is shown formed with a peripheral edge from which extend six axially spaced, tapered and rounded protuberances 11, ll. Stretched between adjacent pairs of protuberances Il may be elastic bands indicated generally at N3, the same being arranged in progressive series around the periphery of the body substantially as described in connection with Figures 1 to 3, the last band in the series having an end extending loosely, as before, for the purposes described.

When elastic bands 18 are successively pulled from the dispenser described above, the body I5 will be automatically caused to rotate on its axis to position the loosened ends of the bands for most convenient reach by the user. For example, by pulling downwardly on the loose ends, as viewed in Figure 4, the dispenser will always rotate to about the same relative position of said loose ends.

Obviously, the improved dispensing device may be formed with three or more protuberances as described. Other modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rubber band dispenser, comprising a body having a peripheral edge defining a closed figure and having three or more peripheral protuberances extending outwardly of said edge, and rubber bands stretched over adjacent pair of said protuberances in a progressive series around the periphery of said body adjacent protuberances being spaced so that the bands are held stretched over the same, each rubber band of said series between the first and the last having one end thereof engaging through the next preceding band of the series and over its respective protuberance, the last band in said series also engaging through the next preceding band of the series but having its other end out of engagement with a protuberance.

2. A rubber band dispenser, comprising a body having a peripheral edge defining a closed figure and having three or more peripheral protuberances extending outwardly of said edge, said protuberances being outwardly tapered, and rubber bands stretched over adjacent pairs of said protuberances in a progressive series around the periphery of said body adjacent protuberances be ing spaced so that the bands are held stretched over the same, each rubber band of said series between the first and the last having one end thereof engaging through the next preceding band of the series and over it respective protuberance, the last band in said series also engaging through the next preceding band of the series but having its other end out of engagement with a protuberance.

3. A rubber band dispenser comprising a body having a peripheral edge defining a closed figure and having three or more peripheral protuberances extending outwardly of said edge, said protuberances being outwardly tapered and rounded, and rubber bands stretched over adjacent pairs of said protuberances in a progressive series around the periphery of said body adjacent protuberances being spaced so that the bands are held stretched over the same, each rubber band of said series between the first and the last one having one end thereof engaging through the next preceding band of the series'and over its respective protuberance, the last band in said series also engaging through the next preceding band of the series but having its other end out of engagement with a protuberance.

4. A rubber band dispenser comprising a body having a peripheral edge defining a closed figure and having three or more peripheral protuberances extending outwardly of said edge, and means for rotatably mounting said body, and rubber bands stretched over adjacent pairs of said protuberances in a progressive series around the periphery of said body adjacent protuberances being spaced so that the bands are held stretched over the same, each rubber band of said series between the first and the last having one end thereof engaging through the next preceding band of the series and over its respective pro tuberance, the last band in said series also engaging through the next preceding band of the series but having its other end out of engagement with a protuberance.

5. A rubber band dispenser comprising a relatively fiat body having a peripheral edge defining a closed figure and having three or more peripheral protuberances extending outwardly of said edge, said protuberances being outwardl tapered and rounded at the ends thereof, and rubber bands stretched over adjacent pairs of said protuberances in a progressive series around the periphery of said body adjacent protuberances being spaced so that the bands are held stretched over the same, each rubber band of said series between the first and the last having one end thereof engaging through the next preceding band of the series and over its respective protuberance, the last band in said series also engaging through the next preceding band of the series but having its other end out of engagement with a protuberance.

6. A rubber band dispenser comprising a body of relatively stiff sheet material, said body having a peripheral edge defining a closed figure and having threeor more peripheral protuberances extending outwardly of said edge, said protuberances being outwardly tapered and rounded at the ends thereof, and rubber bands stretched over adjacent pairs of said protuberances in a progressive series around the periphery of said body adjacent protuberances being spaced so that the bands are held stretched over the same, each rubber band of said series between the first and the last having one end thereof engaging through the next preceding band of the series and over its respective protuberance, the last band in said series also engaging through the next preceding band of the series but having its other end out of engagement with a protuberance.

PAUL A. YOCUM. 

